Purpose designed brushes are not a necessity – a very old tea towel or toothbrush will do the job – but in reality toothbrushes are best at teeth and tea towels are best at dishes.

How To: Maintain and Clean Your Bike in 10 Easy Steps

Purpose designed bike cleaning brushes are optimized to get right into the areas that can be difficult – such as the between the cogs of the cassette and around the jockey wheels.

The Xtreme Scrub Brush will set you back £3.45 and has brushes shaped to get to those hard to reach areas, as well as having a ‘claw’ plastic end which is perfect for getting right into the cassette.